Steering detection device for articulated vehicles

Abstract

A steering detection device for articulated vehicles, such as consisting of a tractor truck and a semitrailer, connected by a thrust bearing on the truck and having a hole designed to house a corresponding pin on the semitrailer, creating an axis of relative rotation between the tractor truck and the semitrailer. The device has a shaft rotatably mounted to the pin, a sensor connected to the shaft to interact with the thrust bearing when the tractor truck is coupled to the semitrailer, and a transducer actuated by the rotatable shaft to produce electric signals corresponding to the angular rotational movements between the shaft attached to the thrust bearing by means of the said sensor, and the pin, in order to obtain signals relative to the rotation of the tractor truck with respect to the semitrailer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A steering detection device to determine the angular relationship in a horizontal plane between a truck and a trailer of an articulated vehicle rotatably coupled by a thrust bearing on one of the truck and trailer comprising: a pin having a generally vertical axis connected to said thrust bearing;   a shaft rotatably mounted to said pin;   a sensor coupled to said shaft to be moved by angular movement of one of the truck and trailer to rotate said shaft upon change in angular relationship between the truck and trailer; and   a transducer coupled to said rotatable shaft for producing an electrical signal in response to the rotation of said shaft and corresponding to the angular relationship between the truck and the trailer.   
     
     
       2. The steering detection device according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is positioned at least partially inside and coaxial to the said pin. 
     
     
       3. The steering detection device according to claim 1, wherein said transducer is a rotating sensor positioned in a central seat of said pin and attached to the shaft, said transducer including control means to determine an angle read by said rotating sensor to produce an input variable as a function of the rotation between the pin and shaft and producing a linear electrical output signal. 
     
     
       4. A steering detection device as in claim 1 wherein said pin has a passage and said rotatable shaft is mounted therein, said transducer also being mounted to said pin. 
     
     
       5. A steering detection device as in claim 1 further comprising an extension connected to said shaft to contact a part of the one of the truck and trailer to rotate said shaft. 
     
     
       6. The steering detection device according to claim 5 wherein a part of said thrust bearing coupled to one of the truck and trailer comprises two tabs forming a guide zone of generally "V" shape within which said sensor is placed to be contacted by said tabs and wherein, the height of the said sensor does not exceed the corresponding height of the pin, said sensor comprising a connecting bar having separable means for connection to the shaft at one end and, at the other end, supporting a fitting for insertion in the guide zone to interact with the thrust bearing. 
     
     
       7. The steering detection device according to claim 5, further comprising a hook for connecting the thrust bearing and the pin that grips the pin on a plane perpendicular to the pin axis, said shaft being positioned at least partially within and coaxial to said pin, said connecting bar being attached to said shaft below said plane and extending for a length not less than the length of the said hook from said pin axis in the direction of the guide zone to prevent interference between the fitting and the hook. 
     
     
       8. The steering detection device according to claim 5, wherein a part of said thrust bearing coupled to one of the truck and trailer comprises a pair of tabs on said thrust bearing to establish therebetween a guide zone of generally "V" shape, said sensor further comprising a connecting bar having one end connected to said shaft and at the other end a fitting of a substantially semi-circular plate attached to the connecting bar and flexible so that when preloaded and inserted in the guide zone said fitting interacts with said "V"-shaped tabs. 
     
     
       9. The combination for an articulated vehicle comprising: a truck;   a trailer having at least one self-steering axle;   a thrust bearing to rotatably couple the truck and trailer;   a pin mounted in a hole in said thrust bearing;   a shaft rotatably mounted to said pin;   a sensor coupled to said shaft to be moved upon angular movement between the truck and trailer to rotate said shaft upon change in angular relationship between the truck and trailer; and   a transducer coupled to said rotatable shaft for producing an electrical signal in response to the rotation of said shaft and corresponding to the angular relationship between the truck and the trailer.   
     
     
       10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein said shaft is positioned at least partially inside and coaxial to the said pin. 
     
     
       11. The combination according to claim 9, further comprising an extension connected to said shaft to contact a part of the one of the truck and trailer to rotate said shaft. 
     
     
       12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein a part of said thrust bearing coupled to one of the truck and trailer comprises two tabs forming a guide zone of generally "V" shape within which said sensor is placed to be contacted by said tabs.